Garswood Primary and Nursery School
Wigan, WN4 0SF · St. Helens · primary school
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5th of 52 primary schools in St. Helens we can score, 54 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 3,836 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 5.4/10 among them, against 6.6/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 70.0 · 65 | 40% | 2.61 |
| Ofsted | 96 | 35% | 3.37 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 10.0 · 66 | 25% | 1.65 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Garswood Primary and Nursery School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 70.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. 10.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Outstanding in October 2024. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 5.4 out of 10 among them, against 6.6 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils access a breakfast club and after-school club. Activities include Djembe drumming, a KS2 choir, Forest school, football, rugby, netball, gymnastics, badminton, judo, rounders, athletics, brass and keyboard tuition, Morris Dance, dance, yoga, fencing, and archery.
Getting in
The published school roll is 208 pupils against a stated capacity of 315. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to maintain progress from the expected to the higher standard? What specific support is available for children joining the nursery phase? How are the various sports and arts clubs scheduled to ensure broad participation?
What Ofsted said about Garswood Primary and Nursery School
Overview
This ungraded inspection confirms the school’s overall judgement remains ‘outstanding’, though evidence suggests a graded inspection might yield a lower rating. The report highlights a school where pupils are ‘kind, ambitious and respectful’, benefiting from high expectations and strong relationships with staff. While most aspects of education are delivered well, specific curriculum gaps in some subjects require attention.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate ‘highly positive’ behaviour and ‘excellent attendance’, supported by effective school systems.
- The curriculum is ‘carefully considered and organised’, with teachers using high-quality training to deliver it consistently.
- Phonics teaching is delivered with ‘confidence and consistency’, helping the ‘vast majority of pupils’ build deep knowledge.
- Staff support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well, ensuring they ‘fully access the same curriculum as their peers’.
- Governors ‘closely monitor’ operations effectively, and staff value improvements to workload and well-being.
Areas to improve
- In a small number of foundation curriculum subjects, ‘some pupils have gaps in their knowledge’ due to previous curriculum weaknesses.
- These gaps result in ‘insecure’ understanding that hinders pupils’ ability to make sense of new learning; teachers must ‘swiftly remedy’ these issues.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 77% |
| 2023/24 | 72% |
| 2024/25 | 70% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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